[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 74 (Monday, April 17, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 20428-20429]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9564]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

50 CFR Part 622

[I.D. 040600B]


South Atlantic Fishery Management Council; Public Hearings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, Commerce.

ACTION: Public hearings; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Council), in 
cooperation with the Caribbean Fishery Management Council, will convene 
17 public hearings regarding the draft Fishery Management Plan for the 
Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery of the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico 
(draft FMP). The overall goal of the FMP is to provide a comprehensive 
management structure for dolphin and wahoo in the Atlantic, Gulf, and 
Caribbean exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The FMP will take a 
precautionary approach in conserving these fishery resources, achieving 
optimum yield (OY), and maintaining current allocations among user 
groups.

DATES: The Council will accept written comments on the draft FMP 
through July 7, 2000. The public hearings will be held in May and June 
of 2000. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific dates and times of 
the public hearings.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Bob Mahood, Executive 
Director, South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, One Southpark 
Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699. Copies of the draft FMP 
are available from Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery Management 
Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 29407-4699; 
telephone: 843-571-4366. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for specific 
locations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kim Iverson, South Atlantic Fishery 
Management Council, One Southpark Circle, Suite 306, Charleston, SC 
29407-4699; telephone: 843-571-4366; fax: 843-769-4520; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Management Measures

    The draft FMP provides for the following: Establishment of 
management units for dolphin and wahoo; proposed dealer, vessel and

[[Page 20429]]

operator permit requirements; reporting requirements; establishment of 
a maximum sustainable yield (MSY) and OY; definition of overfishing for 
dolphin and wahoo; and the establishment of a framework procedure for 
regulatory adjustments without requiring FMP amendments.
    The following proposed management measures are under consideration 
for dolphin and wahoo in the Atlantic EEZ: (1) Prohibition of the sale 
of recreationally caught fish in the Atlantic EEZ; (2) a limit on the 
percent of dolphin harvested in the Atlantic EEZ by the recreational 
fishery and the commercial fishery, at 87 percent and 13 percent, 
respectively. (Note: Should either sector's catch exceed these 
percentages, the Council will review the data and evaluate the need for 
additional regulations which may be established through the FMP's 
framework procedures); (3) a recreational bag limit of 5 to 10 dolphins 
per person per day, excluding the captain and crew of for-hire boats in 
the Atlantic EEZ; (4) a commercial dolphin trip limit of 1,000 to 5,000 
lb or an equivalent number of fish, with no transfer at sea allowed in 
the Atlantic EEZ; (5) no minimum size limit for dolphin in the Atlantic 
EEZ; (6) a commercial trip limit for wahoo of 500 lb or an equivalent 
number of fish, with no transfer at sea allowed in the Atlantic EEZ; 
(7) no minimum size limit for wahoo in the Atlantic EEZ; (8) a 
recreational bag limit of two wahoo per person per day for the 
recreational fishery, excluding the captain and crew of for-hire boats 
in the Atlantic EEZ; (9) specification of allowable gear for dolphin 
and wahoo in the Atlantic EEZ as surface longline and as hook-and-line 
gear including manual, electric, or hydraulic rod and reels, bandit 
gear, and spearfishing gear; (10) prohibition of the use of pelagic 
longline gear for dolphin and wahoo concurrent with time/area closures 
to the use of such gear for highly migratory pelagic species in the 
Atlantic EEZ; (11) establish a fishing year of January 1 to December 31 
for the dolphin and wahoo fishery; (12) identification of essential 
fish habitat (EFH) for dolphin and wahoo in the Atlantic; and (13) 
identification of EFH--Habitat Areas of Particular Concern (HAPC) for 
dolphin and wahoo in the Atlantic.

Time and Location for Public Hearings

    Public hearings for the draft FMP will be held at the following 
dates, times, and locations.
    1. May 1, 2000, 7 p.m., Town & Country Inn, 2008 Savannah Highway, 
Charleston, SC 29407; telephone: 843-571-1000.
    2. May 2, 2000, 7 p.m., Sea Turtle Inn, One Ocean Boulevard, 
Atlantic Beach, FL 32233; telephone: 904-249-7402
    3. May 3, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, 1300 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa 
Beach, FL 32931; telephone: 407-783-2271.
    4. May 4, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, 999 N. Atlantic Boulevard, Ft. 
Lauderdale Beach, FL 32931; telephone: 954-563-5961.
    5. May 9, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn Kill Devil Hills, 1601 Virginia 
Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948; telephone: 252-441-6333.
    6. May 10, 2000, 7 p.m., Crystal Coast Civic Center, 3505 Arendell 
Street, Morehead City, NC 28557; telephone: 252-247-3883.
    7. May 11, 2000, 7 p.m., Blockade Runner, 275 Waynick Boulevard, 
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480; telephone: 910-256-2251.
    8. May 15, 2000, 7 p.m., Hyatt Regency Savannah, 2 West Bay Street, 
Savannah, GA 31401; telephone: 912-238-1234.
    9. May 17, 2000, 7 p.m., Embassy Suites Hotel and Casino, 8000 
Tartak St., Isla Verde, Carolina, Puerto Rico; telephone: 787-791-0505.
    10. May 18, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn St. Thomas, Veterans Drive, 
St. Thomas USVI; telephone: 800-524-7389.
    11. May 19, 2000, 7 p.m., Caravelle Hotel, 448 Queen Cross St., St. 
Croix, USVI; telephone: 800-595-9505 or 340-773-0687.
    12. June 8, 2000, 7 p.m., Hyatt Key West, 601 Front Street, Key 
West, FL 33040; telephone: 305-296-9900.
    13. June 12, 2000, 7 p.m., Cheeca Lodge, Mile Marker 82, US Highway 
One, Islamorada, FL 33036; telephone: 305-664-4651.
    14. June 26, 2000, 7 p.m., Princess Bayside, 4801 Coastal Highway, 
Ocean City, MD 21842; telephone: 410-723-2900.
    15. June 27, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, 290 Route 37 East, Toms 
River, NJ 08753; telephone: 732-244-4000.
    16. June 28, 2000, 7 p.m., Holiday Inn, 3845 Veterans Memorial 
Highway, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779; telephone: 516-585-9500.
    17. June 29, 2000, 7 p.m., The Radisson Hotel, 35 Governor Winthrop 
Boulevard, New London, CT 06320; telephone: 860-443-7000.
    Copies of the draft FMP can be obtained from the Council (see 
ADDRESSES).

Special Accommodations

    These meetings are physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to the Council office (see ADDRESSES) 
by April 26, 2000.

    Dated: April 11, 2000.
Bruce Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9564 Filed 4-14-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F